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Carrier (T-Mobile iPhone 5s is LOCKED- Unlocked iPhone 5s Discussion)

Cl5bOCYpv9nUJ1UMaD1qzHjE7

http://www.monosnap.com/image/Cl5bOCYpv9nUJ1UMaD1qzHjE7
the apple online chat said it won't work with at&t cause it is locked to at&t
 
nitramf said:
so basically there is no difference between the full paid at&t, verizon and tmobile?

Because it should work in germany :)
1800MHZ is the frequence I think
Click to expand...

No difference as far as GSM. The Verizon has CDMA and GSM activated.

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nitramf said:
Image
http://www.monosnap.com/image/Cl5bOCYpv9nUJ1UMaD1qzHjE7
the apple online chat said it won't work with at&t cause it is locked to at&t
Click to expand...
False information. You asked about contract free. In store it's called "Device Only."

Device only AT&T iPhones are unlocked.
 
This thread is incredibly helpful, but I still have a couple questions:

1. Is there any difference in the GSM chipset between the Verizon and ATT 5S? I ask because I am on ATT, but I want my phone unlocked for use internationally when I travel. If the chipsets are identical, then I might as well get the Verizon version in case I ever switch carriers (I have grandfathered unlimited data w ATT).

2. Can the Verizon 5S support simultaneous talk and surf over GSM when used on ATT? (I assume the "no simultaneous talk and surf" issue is only limited to CDMA use, right?)

3. Just to confirm...if I go with the subsidized ATT phone from the Apple Store, it will be locked to ATT. Is it possible to unlock it immediately? How much does that cost?

Thanks!
 
gopherblue said:
This thread is incredibly helpful, but I still have a couple questions:

1. Is there any difference in the GSM chipset between the Verizon and ATT 5S? I ask because I am on ATT, but I want my phone unlocked for use internationally when I travel. If the chipsets are identical, then I might as well get the Verizon version in case I ever switch carriers (I have grandfathered unlimited data w ATT).

2. Can the Verizon 5S support simultaneous talk and surf over GSM when used on ATT? (I assume the "no simultaneous talk and surf" issue is only limited to CDMA use, right?)

3. Just to confirm...if I go with the subsidized ATT phone from the Apple Store, it will be locked to ATT. Is it possible to unlock it immediately? How much does that cost?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

1. No

2. YES. (sorry read the question wrong)

3. It will if you sign a contract. If you buy device only (full price) it won't be locked to AT&T.

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nitramf said:
Image
http://www.monosnap.com/image/Cl5bOCYpv9nUJ1UMaD1qzHjE7
the apple online chat said it won't work with at&t cause it is locked to at&t
Click to expand...

I believe there is misinformation going around. Others have shown that that isn't true. Buying device only gives you a phone that is unlocked.
 
Last edited:
Received my Silver 64GB Contract-Free T-Mobile iPhone 5s today.

Unlocked out the box. Working perfectly with my Straight Talk AT&T Sim WITH 4G/LTE data, and MMS. =)
 
My Space Grey, 64GB, T-Mobile bought from store.apple.com is happily working with the AT&T SIM from my old iPhone 5. Didn't do anything special, just swapped the SIMs when I got it.

I hope our troll friend is still following the thread. :)
 
ummmm

Well im not sure if this will help anyone but i paid full off contract price at the apple store for a 64gb silver AT&T it totaled out to about $924 and as soon as i plugged it into the computer to update it popped out the "congratulations your iphone is unlocked" option.
 
Ordered T-Mobile Version "Contract Free" from apple.com, just received, confirmed it is unlocked (also put AT&T SIM in it and made a call, no issues):

Model: iPhone 5S
Device ID: 0XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Repairs & Service Coverage: Active
Telephone Technical Support: Active
Telephone T.S. Expires: December 24, 2013
Warranty Expires: September 24, 2014
Warranty Type: Limited Warranty
Purchase Date: Validated
Registered: Yes
Activated: Yes
SIM lock: Unlocked

Just to make sure that website was working, I checked my old iPhone 5, which is locked to AT&T:

Model: iPhone 5 XXXXXXXX
Device ID: 0XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Repairs & Service Coverage: Expired
Telephone Technical Support: Expired
Warranty Type: Expired
Purchase Date: Validated
Registered: Yes
Activated: Yes
SIM lock: Locked
 
gopherblue said:
This thread is incredibly helpful, but I still have a couple questions:



2. Can the Verizon 5S support simultaneous talk and surf over GSM when used on ATT? (I assume the "no simultaneous talk and surf" issue is only limited to CDMA use, correct?)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

auero said:
1. No

2. No
Click to expand...

I don't understand on #2: if it is the same chipset as the ATT, why can't the verizon phone handle simultaneous talk and surf on GSM using a SIM?
 
auero said:
1. No

2. No

3. It will if you sign a contract. If you buy device only (full price) it won't be locked to AT&T.

----------



I believe there is misinformation going around. Others have shown that that isn't true. Buying device only gives you a phone that is unlocked.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute, the Verizon 5S on AT&T cannot support talk and surf?
 
AndrewR23 said:
Wait a minute, the Verizon 5S on AT&T cannot support talk and surf?
Click to expand...

gopherblue said:
I don't understand on #2: if it is the same chipset as the ATT, why can't the verizon phone handle simultaneous talk and surf on GSM using a SIM?
Click to expand...

Sorry! I read his question totally wrong. I thought he meant can the Verizon model on verizon's network talk and surf. I correct myself.

Thanks for catching that :)
 
AndrewR23 said:
Wait a minute, the Verizon 5S on AT&T cannot support talk and surf?
Click to expand...

Yes it can. It will just drop down into 3G ("4G") to do that. On Verizon's network it can't because the iPhone lacks a second baseband (which is how other phone manufacturers get around the CDMA limitation).
 
KPOM said:
Yes it can. It will just drop down into 3G ("4G") to do that. On Verizon's network it can't because the iPhone lacks a second baseband (which is how other phone manufacturers get around the CDMA limitation).
Click to expand...

Yeah, and an AT&T sim inside a Verizon iphone 5S can get around that limiation if I read correct.
 
Beezy253 said:
Received my Silver 64GB Contract-Free T-Mobile iPhone 5s today.

Unlocked out the box. Working perfectly with my Straight Talk AT&T Sim WITH 4G/LTE data, and MMS. =)
Click to expand...

Just curious... With the unlocked t-mobile phones; when you turn it on, does it ask you to verify who you are, etc. like the AT&T phones do when on contract? Or, does it just activate like a store-bought phone?
 
WolfSnap said:
Just curious... With the unlocked t-mobile phones; when you turn it on, does it ask you to verify who you are, etc. like the AT&T phones do when on contract? Or, does it just activate like a store-bought phone?
Click to expand...

It didn't ask for a mobile number. I inserted my sim, then it went through the regular setup.
 
CEmajr said:
Instantly

Swiftunlocks.com
Click to expand...

Is this legit and the same as a factory unlock (or ATT unlock)?
Why would someone pay full unsubsidized price for the ATT phone when they could get the subsidized one at half price and then unlock?
What am I missing?
 
gopherblue said:
I don't understand on #2: if it is the same chipset as the ATT, why can't the verizon phone handle simultaneous talk and surf on GSM using a SIM?
Click to expand...

Because Verizon routes voice calls onto its CDMA network. CDMA does not, in itself, support simultaneous voice and data. There are some workarounds that other phone manufacturers use, but not Apple. AT&T's voice network operates on GSM, whose 3G standard supports simultaneous voice and data. Eventually LTE will support voice but not until next year at the earliest.
 
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